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Friday, June 28, 2013

A/L new technology subject stream

Minister of
Education Mr. Bandula Gunawardana said that the fourth turning point in
education in line with fulfilling the objective of creating a knowledge based
society as mentioned in Mahinda Chinthana Prospectus occurred on 20th June 2013
and through this direction, a real change in the lives of all born and unborn
children will happen.

The minister
expressed these ideas while attending the function to introduce advanced level
new technology subject stream to the nation under the patronage of HE the President
Mahinda Rajapakse at Temple Trees on 20th June 2013.

After 1815
English education system prevailed in the country and it catered to a limited
number of privileged elite social class people. Patriotic people such as Henry
Olcott and Anagarika Dharmapala made the first turning point in education by
opening Buddhist schools. After passing the free education act, Dr. C.W.W.
Kannangara created the second turning point in education by opening 54 central
colleges and the third turning point was done by Madam Sirimavo Bandaranayake
taking over the schools under the government control, the minister stated.

The minister
further emphasized that for the fourth turning point of introducing technology
subject stream, several reasons caused and creating a qualified human resource
for the available employments is the major one among those reasons. At present
the percentages of students learning in advanced level can be categorized as
Science and Mathematics subject stream 21%, Commerce subject stream 27% and
Arts subject stream 52%. It is expected to change these percentages, increasing
the advanced level Science and Mathematics subject stream up to 40%, Commerce
subject stream up to 35% and reducing arts subject stream back to 25% by the
year 2016. In line with these changes computer literacy rate also will be
increased up to 75%, the minister further stated.

For the
students who follow this new subject stream and qualify for the university
entrance, a Science and Technology faculty will be created in the universities
by 2016 and a new degree will be awarded as “Bachelor of Technology” (B tech),
the minister said.

The new
technology subject stream will be started on the 15th of next month in 200
schools selected from the 1000 secondary schools and HE the President Mahinda
Rajapakse has instructed to change the history and create a proper education
system which does not mislead the children.

Establishment
of Mahindodaya scholarship program was also initiated at this occasion and the
president handed over his salary of June to the minister of education as the
first donation to this fund.

Registration
of the first student for this new technology subject stream was done by the
president and he registered a student of Devi Balika Vidyalaya using the TV
technology from the Temple Trees. Handing over of the new syllabus to the
principals representing nine provinces was also happened at this occasion.